Idaho State Department of Education

Science is the coordination of a body of knowledge about the natural world and a set of practices that enable humans to explore and understand that world.  Science is truly the original human endeavor.  Natural explanations for observed phenomena must be based on empirical evidence.

Last year’s science standards that were in place for K-12 classrooms in Idaho underwent revisions. The science standards that are in Temporary Rule until 2018. The 2017 Science Standards are a much-improved set of science standards, when compared to the prior science standards. Prior Idaho Science Standards were broad and vague in nature.  National and local evaluations of the prior standards indicated a lack of clarity in science content topics and practices.  That made it very difficult to assess student achievement of these standards because they lacked clear performance expectations in them.  Inquiry-based learning methods are found to be a best practice in the field of science education, and were missing from the 2016 Idaho Science Standards.  Another valid criticism of the old science document was that that it failed to link Mathematics and English Language Arts practices to scientific applications.  Standards must contain a planned scope and sequence of practices and content themes that spirals from kindergarten all the way up to high school science.

Science as a practice is dynamic in nature.  The 2016 science standards document, originally adopted in 2001, had few changes over their usage. In the last fifteen years, there have been significant advancements in science and technology; requiring updated science standards.  Science classrooms offer a unique opportunity for students to practice 21st century learning skills that will enable them to be more scientifically industrious in future endeavors.  When comparing 2016 science standards with the revised science standards, it is clear that the new science document contains updated content that provides a fresh approach to teaching science content. Revising Idaho’s science standards allows for the integration of “knowing science” and “doing science”.  Conceptual understanding of content will require practicing science in place of memorizing facts. Structuring science standards around performance expectations makes mastery assessment of student knowledge an embedded component of science education.  Updated science standards in Idaho will allow for learning experiences that will increase content knowledge as well as scientific practices in Idaho’s many K-12 classrooms.  This will eliminate the gaps and compartmentalization that is prevalent in the prior document. National movement towards an updated version of science standards that is similar to Idaho’s revised science standards document is dictating that professional development opportunities and curricular materials that are in development will align better with the revised document than with the prior standards. Idaho’s post-secondary institutions have been providing a version of science standards similar to the revised Idaho Science Standards document in their science and science education departments, for guiding graduates in these technical fields. Revised Idaho science standards provide rigor when we teach science with a new vetted approach, which means incorporating 21st Century science content and practices.

These include adding the following topics into the 2017 science standards:

• Asking questions/Defining problems
• Developing and using models
• Planning and carrying out investigations
• Analyzing and interpreting data
• Using mathematics and computer technology and computational thinking
• Constructing explanations/Designing solutions
• Engaging in argument from evidence
• Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information
• Identifying patterns
• Cause and effect
• Scale, proportion and quantity
• Systems and system models
• Energy and matter: flows cycles and conservation
• Structure and function
• Stability and change

Timeline: This Science Content Standards Timeline was created by the Idaho State Department of Education in reference to newly created Science Standards first proposed in 2015.

• 2015 The Committee — which included science teachers, a parent, Idaho National Laboratory officials, a Boise State University climate scientist and others — developed the five new standards by meeting  quarterly since 2015.
  • Standards Committee: 20 members from various sub-groups craft and propose standards to SDE
  • Review and Feedback: Public review and comment period feedback
  • Content Workgroups: 20 member standards committee review comments, edit, and produce a new draft of the Science Standards
• 2018 - 2019 Develop resources would help the field with transitioning to the new expectations in Science.
• 2017 - 2020 Science Standards Approved into Educational Code.
• Professional Development is on going, and it will become more specific to the final adopted set of standards.
• Assessment Updates to ISAT & EOC: A new Testing Vendor is crafting an assessment that can measure student practices, rather than student’s content knowledge.
• New Assessment field tested in 2018 - 2019, first operational year with the different item types is 2019 - 2020.
• Assessment items will measure processes and conclusion formation based on phenomenon rather than content.

From April 5 through April 26, over 1,000 public comments were received during the open comment period. Six face-to-face public hearings were held April 11-20, 2017. After review by the Idaho State Board of Education in August, an additional 21-day opportunity will be available for public comment.

5 standards reviewed by the House and Senate Education

Revised 5 standards to be considered by the Idaho State

• Grant Opportunities
• Idaho PAEMST Winners
• Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars
• National and International Assessments
• Science Assessments

• Online Physics for Teachers
• Kentucky Curricular Resources
• University of Louisville
• Annenberg Learner-video teacher resources
• NASA
• Molecular Expressions
• Science Journals and Magazines
• Science Journals and Magazines
• Understanding Science
• Science Buddies

• Discovery Center of Idaho
• Idaho Commission for Libraries
• Idaho Library
• Idaho Afterschool Network
• Idaho Funding and Grants
• Idaho Geological Survey
• Museum of Idaho
• Idaho Rural Water
• Idaho Geographic Alliance
• Idaho Water Science Center
• Micron
• Idaho Public Television: Science Trek
• Mike Crapo Math and Science Scholarship
• National Center for Education Statistics Science Assessment
• Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
• Idaho STEM Pipeline
• Idaho STEM Pipeline K - 12
• STEM Action Center
• iSTEM Professional Development for Educators

• BLM: Idaho
• Craters of the Moon
• Interactive Map of Idaho
• Shoshone Ice Caves

• University of Idaho: College of Natural Resources
• Idaho State University: College of Science and Engineering
• College of Western Idaho: Biology

• American Association for the Advancement of Science
• The Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation
• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering & Medicine
• National Science Teachers Association
• Science NetLinks

• Science Olympiad/STEM night/Micron Science Bowl
• Idaho Digital Learning Article
• Treasure Valley Local Resources IDEA